This bill has advanced since we wrote our summary.
Current stage on Congress.gov: Referred in Senate.
The Cashless Bail Reporting Act would direct the U.S. Attorney General to publish — and update annually — a list of every state and local government that allows defendants charged with certain serious crimes to be released before trial without posting bail. The list would cover violent and sexual offenses (murder, rape, robbery, burglary, assault, carjacking) and offenses the bill calls 'public disorder' (looting, vandalism, rioting, fleeing law enforcement). The bill does not require any state to change its bail rules — it only requires the federal government to track and publicize which jurisdictions use cashless bail for these categories. Republican Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina is the lead sponsor, with 25 House Republican co-sponsors.
Transparency & Accountability
- DOJ annual reporting on cashless-bail jurisdictions — New federal public list of every state and locality permitting cashless release for covered offenses, updated yearly
Congressional Summary
Cashless Bail Reporting ActThis bill requires the Department of Justice to publish annually a list of state and local governments that permit individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses that pose a clear threat to public safety and order to be released pending trial on personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured appearance bond.Under the bill, the criminal offenses that pose a threat to public safety and order include criminal offenses involving a violent or sexual act (e.g., burglary, murder, or rape) and offenses that promote public disorder (e.g., looting or vandalism).On August 25, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that required the Department of Justice to submit to the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security a list of state and local jurisdictions that have substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition for pretrial release for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order, including offenses involving violent, sexual, or indecent acts, or burglary, looting, or vandalism.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-04-09
- Date Added
- 2026-05-09
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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